Forgotten Hero of the Month

Captain Lakshmi Sehgal, in each stage of her life, represented a new stage of her political evolution – from a young medical student drawn to the freedom struggle; as the leader of the all-woman Rani of Jhansi regiment of the Indian National Army; as a doctor, who restarted her medical practice in Kanpur amongst refugees and the most marginalized sections of society; and finally, as a member of the CPI(M) and AIDWA, years that saw her in campaigns for political, economic and social justice.

Ram Prasad Bismil participated in the Mainpuri Conspiracy of 1918, and the Kakori train robbery of 1925. Apart from being a freedom fighter, he was also a patriotic poet. Ram, Agyat and Bismil were known as his pen names which he used in Urdu and Hindi poetry. But, he became popular with the last name "Bismil" only.

Lakshmibai, The Rani of Jhansi , known as Jhansi Rani, was the queen of the Maratha-ruled princely state of Jhansi, was one of the leading figures of the Indian Rebellion of 1857, and a symbol of resistance to British rule in India. She has gone down in history as a legendary figure, as India's "Joan of Arc."

Revolutionary Kartar Singh, the great devotee of Bellona, the goddess of war, was not even twenty years old when he sacrificed himself on the altar of goddess of freedom. He appeared like a storm from somewhere, ignited the flame of revolution and tried to wake up the sleeping Bellona. He blazed the holy yajna of revolution and became himself an offering for the same.

Vinoba Bhave stands as a symbol for the struggle of the good against the evil, of spiritual against the mundane. He was a spiritual visionary, whose spirituality had a pragmatic stance with intense concern for the deprived. He was a brilliant scholar who could knowledge accessible to ordinary people. He was a saint, man of God, moral tribune, a beacon of hope and solace to millions in India and abroad.

Lala Lajpat Rai was an Indian author and politician who is chiefly remembered as a leader in the Indian fight for freedom from the British Raj.The freedom fighter was popularly known as Punjab Kesari (The Lion of Punjab).Lajpat Rai was one of the most important nationalist leaders from the Punjab, where he is remembered reverently by Hindu nationalists today. He was a key mentor of nationalists like Bhagat Singh and Chandrasekhar Azad. His love for service was insatiable.

With the other two members - Lala Lajpat Rai and Bal Gangadhar Tilak - from the Lal Bal Pal team, Bipin Chandra Pal doled out a number of extremist measures like boycotting goods made by British, burning Western clothes and lockouts in the British owned businesses and industrial concerns to get their message across to the foreign rulers of India.

Shivaji Maharaj, the greatest mulnivasi warrior on the earth and his dazzling adventures have inspired generations. He was a great military leader with impeccable morals, put into practice. Chatrapati Shivaji has the rare characteristic of drawing the best elements of the country to his side and winning the most devoted service from his officers.

Chanakya was an adviser and a prime minister to the first Maurya Emperor Chandragupta (c. 340-293 BC), and architect of his rise to power Kautilya and Vishnuguptathe names by which the political treatise Arthashastra identifies its author, are traditionally identified with Chanakya. Some scholars consider Chanakya to be "the pioneer economist of the world". He is known as "The Indian Machiavelli" in the Western world. Chanakya was a professor at Taxila University and is widely believed to be responsible for the first Indian empire.

Dr. Bhimrao Ramji AmbedkarApril 14, 1891 — December 6, 1956) was an Indian jurist, scholar, Bahujan political leader and a Buddhist revivalist, who is the chief architect of the Indian Constitution, also known as Babasaheb. Born into a poor Untouchable community, Ambedkar spent his life fighting against the system of Chaturvarna and the Indian caste system. He is also credited for having sparked the Dalit Buddhist movement. Ambedkar has been honoured with the Bharat Ratna, India's highest civilian award, given for the highest degree of national service.